Coil-switch unit



Fab. 7, 1933. H. E. NORVEEL LSQfiJ fi-B COIL SWITCH UNIT Filed April 15,1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l COIL SWITCH UNIT Filed April 15, 1932 1 1 l 1 I I2 Sheets-Shet 2 Patented Feb. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HARRYE. NOBVIEL, DECEASED, LATE O]? ANDERSON, INDIANA, BY ANDERSON BANK- INGCOMPANY, OF ANDERSON, INDIANA, EXEOUTOR, ASSIGNOBS TO DELCO-BELIYCORPORATION, OF ANDERSON, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE COIL-SWITCHUNIT Application filed April 13,

This invention relates to coil and switch units, and more particularlyto lock coils for automotive vehicles.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a lock coilof economical construction which can be produced at low cost; and thisobject is accomplished by a novel combination of elements comprising, a

tubular, metallic case having parallel notches extending part-way infrom one end, a nonconducting partition carrying stationary switchcontacts located within the case and having lugs received by saidnotches and abutting the end surfaces thereof, a sleeve surrounding thenotched end portion of the case and abutting said lugs, a plate fittingwithin the notched end portion of the case and having lugs received bysaid notches and abutting said sleeve, means for retaining the plateincluding portions of the case bent over against the outside of theplate, a switch actuator carried by the plate, a movable con tact withinthe case and operated by the operator, windings within the caseconnected to one side of the switch contacts, and terminals carried bythe case for connecting the windings to a battery and ignition timer.Another object of the present invention is to provide a coil and switchunit including 80 low tension terminals for making connectionrespectively with a storage battery or other current source, an ignitiontimer or circuit interrupterand one or more other instruments which maybe operated from the current source such as an electric gasoline gaugeor an electric device for automatically causing the engine starter togrip the engine when the ignition switch is closed. In this connectionit is an object of the invention to provide for grounding the ignitiontimer terminal of the coil switch unit when the ignition is turned ofl".

A still further object of the invention is to provide a coil switch unitin which the switch sha l have three positions. In one of thesepositions, preferablythe intermediate position, the ignition is turnedofi, that is, the battery terminal is disconnected from the coil withinthe unit and hence from the igni- I tion timer terminal to which thecoil winding 1932. Serial No. 605,094.

is connected. When the ignition is turned 011', the coil winding ispreferably grounded, thus grounding the ignition interrupter and makingit impossible for the ignition to be rendered operative by connectinganother coil in series with the storage battery and the ignition timer.In one of the extreme positions of the switch operating member theignition is turned on, that is the battery terminal is connected withthe winding in the switch unit and one of the instrument terminalscarried by the unit is also connected with the battery. In anotherextreme position of the switch actuator the ignition is turned on asbefore, but a different instrument is connected with the current source.In this way there is provided two ON positions for the ignition. In oneof the ON positions one of the instruments such as an electric gasolinegauge can be operated; and in the other extreme position .of the switchactuator the automatic starting device controller is rendered operativewhile the gasoline gauge remains inoperative.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings wherein a preferred embodiment of one form of the presentinvention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a coil switch unit embodying the presentinvention.

Fig. 2 is a perspecitve View of a disassembly of parts included in thecoil switch unit.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the coil switch unit.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3. v

Fig. 5 is partly a wiring diagram and partly a face view of a stationaryswitch member looking in the direction of the arrow 5 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a side view of a movable switch member looking in thedirection of the arrow 6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side view partly in longitudinal section of amodified form of coil switch unit.

Referring to Fig. 2, the coil switch unit I comprises a tubular metalliccase having parallel notches 21 extending part-way in from one end. Thecase 20 receives a nonconducting contact support 22 which is primarily adisc-like body received within the tubular case as shown in Fig. 4 inorder to provide an end wall for the coil housing. The support 22 hasradially extending lugs 23 each of which is received within a notch 21and each of which is provided with grooves 23a, 23b and 230 whichreceive those edge portions of the'case which define the notches 21 inthe case 20. The support 22 carries stationary contacts 50, 51, 52,53and 54 which are metal pieces inserted in the mold in which theinsulating material of the support is molded. Before the support 22 isassembled with the case 20, insulated wires 71, 72, 73 and 74 havingbared ends are passed through the partition and are attached to thecontacts 51, 52, 53 and 54,- respectively. The ends of the wires 72 and73 are twisted together as indicated at 75 and are soldered.

The contact support 22 is held in the position shown in Fig. 4 by asleeve or collar 25 which surrounds the notched portion of the .case. 20and which abuts the lugs 23 of the support 22. The sleeve or collar 25may be retained upon the case by spot-welding as indicated at 26. Thesleeve or collar 25 provides apertured ears 27 through which bolts orscrews may pass for securing the coil switch unit to any suitablesupport such as the back surface of the instrument board. The space 28within the case 20 and collar 25 is occupied by a switch and is closedby a plate 30 fitting within the notched end portion of the case 20 andhaving lugs 31 which are received by the notches 21 and which abut theflange 29 of the collar 25. The means for retaining the plate 30 inposition against the collar 25 includes the members 33 separated bynotches 21 and extending within the collar 25 from the coil housingportion. of the case 20. The end portions of the members 33 are bentover against the outer face of the plate 30 thus providing interruptedflanges 32 which are tied to the coil housing the case 20 by the members33.

The. plate 30 supports a bushing 34within which is a rotatable keybarrel 35 which may portion of be rotated when the proper key 36 isinserted as shown in Fig. 7. The barrel 35 is retained within thebushing 34 by a ring 37, which is vertically slidable in a groove 38provided by the barrel 35 and which may drop behind a shoulder 39provided by the bushing 34.

The barrel 35 together with the key 36 constitutes a switch actuatorwhich drives a non-conducting switch contact carrier 40 having a recess41 (see Fig. 6) for receiving freely an eccentric projection 42 providedby the barrel 35. The'carrier 40 carries a stud 43 eccentric the axis ofthebarrel 35 and adapted to slide freely into a hole 44 provided by thebarrel 35. Thus the carrier 40 is mounted for rotation with the barrel35 and is freely axially movable relative thereto. The carrier 40 isprovided with notches 45, each receiving an ear 46 projecting laterallyfrom a triangular metal plate 47 carrying substantially at each of itsapexes a contact 48 engageable with one or more of the stationarycontacts 50, 51, 52, 53 and 54 carried by the support 22. The plate 47carries a' cup-shaped extension 55 which is received within a recess 55aprovided by the partition and is somewhat loosely journalled upon theinterrupted cylindrical walls 55?; defining the recess 55a. Theextension 55receives a spring 56 bearing thereagainst and also againstthe carrier 40. The spring 56 urges the contacts 48 against the support22 and its contacts and also urges the carrier 40 against the plate 30.The plate 30 provides an ear 57 received in the space between lugs 58and 59 of the carrier 40 and thus providing a stop limiting movement ofthe carrier 4O beyond its two extremes-of a movement in eitherdirection. The plate 30 provides a projection 60 receivable withineither of three detent holes 61, thus yieldingly retaining the contactcarrier 40 in either of its three positions, namely, -an intermediateposition and two extreme positions. As the key 36 is turned, the carrier40 is caused to move toward the right against the action of the spring56 due tothe camming action of the detent 60 with the carrier 40. Whenthe carrier 40 is so moved as to present another hole 61 in alignmentwith the detent 60, the spring 56 is released to cause the carrier 40 tomove toward the left sothat another of its holes 61 will receive thedetent 60 and thus yieldingly hold the carrier 40 in another of itspositions. The contact 50 is grounded by a conducting strap of thinmaterial which may project with the adjacent lug 23 through one of thenotches and thence be soldered to the case 20 or to the collar 25. Sincethe collar 25 is generally attached toa metal part of the automobile, itis apparent that the contact 50 will be grounded on the automobile asrepresented 'by the symbol 70a as shown in the diagram in Fig. 5.

The ignition coil subassembly comprises a secondary winding mounted upona nonconducting tube 81 and having an insulating wrapping 82 upon whichis afterwards wound a primary winding 83 enclosed by a non-conductingwrapping 84. The coil assembly includes a bundle of magnctizable wiresor, rods 85 inserted within the tube 81 and having their projecting endsencased in non-conducting tubes 86 and 87. Before placing this coilassembly. within the case 20, a tubular body of a plurality of turns ofmagnetizable material 88 is inserted to provide the outer magnetizablecircuit of the coil. After assembling the partition 22 in the case 20 inthe manner described and after placing the magnetizable material 88within the case, the case is located with the partition 22 lowermost anda quantity of hydrolene or other as phaltic compound 90 is poured intothe case suflicient to fill the case about one-third full. Then the coilassembly is inserted while the case remains in a vertical position, thuscausing the material 90 to rise to a level above the upper end of thesecondary windings 80. The outer end a of the secondary 80 and the innerend 83?) of the winding 83 are attached to the, wire 73. The outer lead83a of the primary 83 is passed through a hole 91 in the coil end member92 and is attached to a terminal 93 known as the ignition timerterminal. The wire 71 is threaded through a hole 94 in the cover 92 andis attached to a terminal 95 known as the battery terminal. In a similar.manner wires 74 and 7 2' are threaded through holes in the cover 92 andare attached to terminals 96 and 97 shown diagrammatically in Fig. 5.Then the cover 92 is attached to the housing 20 by spinning over itsmetallic flange 97 a against a flange 98 provided by the case 20.

The cover 92 which is made of non-conducting material like the contactsupport 22 is provided with a tubular extension 99 which faces toward asimilar tubular extension 100 of the support 22. The extensions 99 and100 receive and support the core 85. Before placing the cover 92 uponthe case 20, a further quantity of hydrolene 90 is introduced so as tobring the level of hydrolene within a short distance of the top or openend of the case 20 surrounded by the flange 98. Before this additionalquantity of hydrolene 90 hardens, the cover 92 is placed in the positionshown in Fig. 4 and its tubular extension or skirt 99 serves to spreadthe hydrolene 90 and causes it to rise still further in the case '20 andto fill up the grooves and recesses of the cover 92. The cover 92provides a nonconductingsocket 101 within which is located a metallicthimble 102 for receivin a metal clipon the end of a high tension ca leby which the coil unit is connected to an ignition distributor. Beforeattaching such cable connector to the thimble 102, a nail 103 is driventhrough reviousl formed, aligned holes in the thimb e 102 an cover 92and between the wires of the center core to which the inner end lead80?) of the secondary 80 is electrically connected. Thus the core 85 andthenail 103 provide an electric connection between the lead 805 and thethimble 102.

The coil is now ready to be inspected, tested and installed. Ininstallation on an automotive vehicle the battery terminal 95 isconnected to a storage battery 1 10 grounded at 1.11; the terminal 93 isconnected to an ignition timer 112 grounded at 113; the terminal 96 isconnected to an instrument 114 which may be an automatic device groundedat 114a for causing the engine starter to operate to crank the enginewhen the ignition is turned on; and the terminal 97 is connected withanother instrument such as a gasoline gauge 116 grounded at 117.

When the key barrel 35 is turned into such' a position as to permitwithdrawal of the, key, the ignition circuit will be interrupted, thatis the ignition is turned off, the three switch contacts 48 beinglocated as indicated by dot-and-dash circles in Fig. 5. In this positionof the contacts 48, the stationary contact 51 to which the battery 110is connected by terminal 95 and wire 71 is not connected with any otherstationary contact, hence the ignition timer 112 is disconnected fromthe battery 110. It will be noted, however, that one of the contacts 48engages the contact 50 and another of the contacts 48 engages contact52; therefore the ignition timer terminal 93 will be grounded throughthe fol lowing circuit; terminal 93, primary 83, wire 73, wire 7 5,contact 52, movable contact 48, contact plate 47, another movablecontact 48, stationary contact 50, strap 70, case 20 or collar 25 andthence to ground through metallic parts of the automobile. Thus the carcannot be started by connecting another ignition coil in series betweenthe battery 110 and the terminal 93.

When the contact carrier 40 is rotated clockwise into its extremeposition, none of the contacts 48 will engage the contact 50, hence theground connection will'be interrupted. Two of the contacts 48 willengage respectively the contacts 51 and 53, therefore the batteryterminal 95 will be connected with the ignition timer terminal 93through the following circuit: terminal 95, wire 71, contact 51, contact48, plate 47, another contact 48, contact 53, wire 73, primary 83,terminal 93, timer 112. Furthermore the gasoline gauge 116 will beconnected with the battery through the following circuit: terminal 95,Wire (1, contact 51, a contact 48, plate 47,

another Contact 48, contact 53, wire 75, contact 52, wire 72, terminal97, gauge 116.

When the carrier 40 is turned counterclockwise from the body shown inFig. 6 to its extreme position ina counter-clockwise direction, none ofthe contacts 48 will engage the contact 50. One of the contacts-48 willengage the contact 51, another will engage the contact 53 and anotherthe'contact 54; therefore the ignition timer 112 will be connected withthe battery 110 as before and the instrument 114 for the automaticstarting of the automobile engine will be connected to the batterythrough the following circuit: terminal 95, wire 71, contact 51, acontact 48, plate 47, another contact 48, contact 54, wire 74, terminal96 and instrument 114.

The locking coil unit therefore provides the gasoline gaugenon-operative and the automatic engine starting device operative, asdesired. Also the driver may turn the switch in one direction to causethe gasoline gauge to operate before cranking .to determine whetherthere is sufficient gasoline in the tank, and then turn the switch inthe opposite direction to render the ignition and the automatic enginestarting device operative to crank the engine.

The form of coil switch unit shown in Fig. 7 differs from that which hasbeen described only with respect to the sleeve or collar memer 26a whichdiffers from'the collar 25 since it omits the mounting flange 29 andapertured ears 27. -The collar 26a is simply a strip of material bent upinto cylindrical form and provided with deep notches 26b for receivingthe lugs 22. The collar 26a is attached to the case 20 by welding asindicated at 260. Each part 2603 located between notches 26b is weldedto the case 20 in two places. In this way the collar 26a serves as areinforcing member and is adapted toreceive a clamp-bracket or othersuitable mounting device (not shown), adapted to embrace the collar. y

- Both illustrated forms of the coil and switch unit comprise a unitarysub-assembly including the case 20, contact support 22, sleeve 25, endcover 92 and coil within the case 20, a second unitary sub-assemblyincluding the plate 30 and bushing 34 forming a bearing for the key plug35', and a thlrd assembly including the movable contact carrier 40driving the movable contact member 47. Preferably the carrier 40 andcontact member 47 are placed upon the support 22 before the plate 30 isassembled with thecase 20. The extension 55 is placed within the.

recess 55a'of the support 22 and the carrier 40 is turned into a certainposition relative to the coil case 20. Then the plate 30 is placedagainst the sleeve 25, certain tangs 31 of the plate 30 entering certainnotches 21 of the case 20. Then the end edges of the parts 33 of thecase. 20 are bent over the outer face of the plate 30.

' A coil and switch unit constructed of separable subassemblies asherein disclosed readily lends itself to servicing, repair orreplacement of one or more of these subassemblies. For example, if thecoil ceases to function, the coil subassembly may be detached from theplate 30 andbe replaced by acoil against subassembly of proven merit.Although the replacement of the coil subassembly is the preferred methodof servicing a lock-switchcoil, when the coil is defective,- it isapparent that the coil subassembly may be repaired. The flange 97a ofthe cover 92 may be bent away from the flange 98 of the housing 20 topermit removal of the cover 92. The pitch filling may be softened byheating to facilitate removal of the windings after disconnecting themfrom the leads to the switch contacts.

' Some car manufacturers prefer to supply 7 and to assemble the key plug35 in the bushing 34. In such cases, the manufacturer of the coil andswitch unit will assemble the unit without the key plug and ship it tothe car manufacturer. The movable contact is retained in angularposition during shipment because the detent 60 of the plate 30 isyieldingly held within one of the recesses 61 of the carrier 40. Howeverit is always possiblefor. the manufacturer of the coil and switch unitto supply the key plug 35 and to assemble it with the bushing 34 whenrequired. Obviously the plug 35 can be assembled with the bushing 34before or after assembling the plate 30 with the case 20.

lVhile the form of embodiment of the present invention as hereindisclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood thatother forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claimswhich follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In a coil and switch unit, the combination of a tubular caseproviding a coil housing, a contact support within the case, a collarsurrounding the case and attached .1 0 thereto, a plate adapted to bearagainst the collar, means provided by the case for securing the plateagainst the collar, the support, collar and plate providing a switchhousing, a stationary contact insulatingly supported by the contactsupport, a contact movable within the switch housing, and a controllercarried by the plate for operatingthe movable contact.

2. In a coil and switch unit, the combination of a tubular caseproviding a coil housing and having notches extending longitudinally andpart way in from one end of the case, a contact support located withinthe case and having lugs received by said 1 notches and abutting the endsurfaces thereof, a collar surrounding the notched end portion of thecase and attached to the case and abutting the lugs of the support, aplate adapted to close the end of the case in .order to provide a switchhousing within the collar, means provided by the case for securing theplate in position, a stationary contact insulatingly supported by thepartition, a

contact movable within the switch housing, p

tion of a tubular case providing a coil housing, a contact supportwithin the case, a

. collar surrounding the case and attached thereto, a plate adapted tobear against the collar, means provided by the case for securing theplate against the sleeve, the support, collar and plate providing aswitch housing, a stationary contact insulatin ly carried by thesupport, a rotary movable contact adapted to engage the stationarycontact and having a journal portion received within a bearing recessprovided by the support, a movable contact carrier having a drivingconnection with the movable contact providing for relative axialmovement between the carrier and movable contact, a compression springlocated between the carrier and movable contact and tending to separatethem, the securing of the plate in position causing the spring to becompressed beyond its initial state of compression. whereby the movablecontact is urged against the stationary contact and the carrier towardthe plate, and a rotary controller carried by the plate for operatingthe movable contact.

4. In a coil and switch unit the combination of a tubular case providinga coil housing and having notches extending longitudinally and part wayin from one end of the case, a contact support located within the caseand having lugs received by said notches and abutting the end surfacesthere of, a collar surrounding the notched end portion of the case andattached to the case and abutting the lugs of the support, a plateadapted to close the end of the case in order to provide a switchhousing within the collar, and having lugs extending into the notches ofthe case and bearing against the collar, means provided by the case forsecuring the plate to the collar, a stationary con tact insulatinglycarried by the support, a

rotary movable contact adapted to engage the stationary contact andhaving a journal portion received within a bearing recess provided bythe support, a movable contact carrier having a driving connection withthe movable contact providing for relative axial movement between thecarrier and movable contact, a compression spring located between thecarrier and movable contact and tending to separate them, the securingof the plate in position causing the spring to be compressed beyond itsinitial state of compression, whereby the movable contact is urgedagainst the stationary contact and the carrier toward the plate, and arotary controller carried by the plate for operating the movablecontact.

5. In a coil and switch unit the cofnbination of a tubular metallic caseproviding a coil housing and having parallel notches extending part-wayin from one end, a nonconducting contact support carrying stationaryswitch contacts located within the case and having lugs receivedby saidnotches and abutting the end surfaces thereof, a collar surrounding thenotched end portion of the case and abutting said lugs, a plate fittingwithin the notched end portion of the case and having lugs received bysaid notches and abutting said collar, means for retaining the plateincluding portions of the case bent over against the outside of theplate, a switch actuator carried by the plate and a movable contactwithin the case and operated by the actuator.

63. A coil and switch unit as defined in claim 5 and in which the lugsof the partition are grooved to receive those edge portions of the casewhich define the notches in the case.

7. In a coil and switch unit, the combination of a tubular caseproviding a coil housing, a contact support within the case, a collarsurrounding the case and attached thereto, a plate adapted to bearagainst the collar, means independent of the collar and extending fromthe coil housing for securing'the plate against the collar, a stationarycontact insulatingly carried by the contact support, a contact movableinto engagement with the stationary contact and a controller carried bythe plate for operating the movable contact.

8. In a coil and switch unit, the combination of a tubular caseprovidinga coil housing, a contact support within the case, a collar surroundingthe case and attached thereto, a plate adapted to bear against thecollar, means extending from the coil housing and within the collar forsecuring the plate against the collar, a stationary contact insulatinglycarried by the contact support, a contact movable into engagement withthe stationary contact, and a controller carried by the plate foroperating the movable contact.

9. In a coil and switch unit, the combination of a tubular caseproviding a coil housing, a contact support within the case, a collar ofrelatively thick material surrounding the case and attached thereto,said collar having an edge terminating in spaced relation to the contactsupport, a plate adapted to bear against the collar, members ofrelatively thin material extending from the coil housing and adapted tobebent against the plate in order to secure the plate against thecollar, a stationary contact insulatingly carried by the contactsupport, a contact movable into engagement with the stationary contact,and a controller carried by the plate for operating the movable contact.

10. In a coil and switch unit, the combina tion of a tubular caseproviding a coil housing, a contact support within the case, a collarsurrounding the case and attached thereto, a plate adapted to bearagainst the collar, members integral with the case and extending fromthe coil housing for securing the plate to the collar, a stationarycontact insulatingly'carried by the contact support, a contact movableinto engagement with the Stationary contact, and a controller carriedbythe plate for operating the movable contact. g 1-1. A subassembly unitadapted to be united with parts of a switch to provide a coil and switchassembly, said unit comprising, in combination, a tubular case providinga coil housing for enclosing a winding, a switch contact support withinthe case, a stationary contact connected with said winding andinsulatingly carried by said support and adapted to cooperate with amovable contact,

a collar surrounding the case, and means independent of the collar andextending from 15 the coil housing and adapted to secure against thecollar a plate which carries a controller for operating the movablecontact.

12. A subassembly unit adapted to be united with parts of a switch toprovide a coil and switch assembly, said unit comprising, in

combination, a tubular case providing a coil housing for enclosing awinding, a switch contact support within the case, a stationary contactconnected with said winding and insulatingly carried by said support andadapted to cooperate with a movable contact, a collar surrounding thecase, and means independent of the collar and extending from the coilhousing and within the collar and adapted to secure against the collar aplate which carries a controller for operating the movable contact.

signature of 13. A subassembly unit adapted to be united with parts of aswitch to provide a coil and switch assembly, said unit comprising, incombination, a tubular case providing a coil housing for enclosing a.winding, a switch contact support within the case, a stationary contactconnected with said winding and insulatingly carried by said support andadapted to cooperate with a movable contact, a collar surrounding thecase,; and means integral with the case and extending therefrom adaptedto secure against the collar,a member which carries a controller foroperating the movable contact. V a In testlmony whereof is heretoaffixed the ANDERSON BANKING COMPANY, Executor of the Estate of Harr /E.Norm'el, De-

ceased,

a, mmw mas,

President.

